CHAPTER 218: CHAPTER-218

The healer leaned in curiously, but before he could speak, Kaya’s patience shattered.

Her fist shot out, grabbing Veer’s collar and yanking him down until their foreheads nearly collided. Her eyes blazed like molten steel as her voice cut sharp through the air.

"Who the hell is sick, you damn bastard?" she snarled. "Check your own mind if you want to see who’s sick!"

The monkey beastmen watching from the sides couldn’t contain themselves—half of them gasped, the others snorted with laughter behind their hands. The healer raised his brows, clearly torn between stepping in or enjoying the spectacle.

Veer, however, didn’t flinch. Instead, his grin widened, even as Kaya’s fist twisted tighter in his collar. "Tch... there it is. I was starting to miss that fire, sweetheart."

The moment was about to escalate when the healer suddenly slipped between them, raising both hands nervously.

"Um, um... you two were looking for me, right? The healer?"

Both Veer and Kaya froze, startled out of their tug-of-war. Kaya’s eyes flicked toward the man.

And for a second, she almost forgot to glare at Veer.

The healer looked like he had stepped out of a painted scroll—slightly long black hair brushing his neck, eyes gleaming with quiet intelligence, and that faint earthy scent of herbs clinging to him. His skin was pale, almost delicate, but his presence carried a kind of calm weight. He wore a robe—or something pretending to be one—flowing, loose, dyed in soft blue, making him look more like a scholar from a drama than someone living in a beast tribe.

Kaya muttered, "Sorry. There’s nothing wrong. Just... a mistake."

The healer tilted his head, curiosity sharpening in his gaze. "You came here in such a rush... and now you say nothing is wrong?" His voice was calm, almost coaxing. "Well, since you’ve made it here, allow me to check you."

Kaya shook her head firmly, voice cutting. "No. Thank you. We’re fine. It’s just this idiot’s nonsense."

Veer’s jaw tightened. He stepped in, his voice rising. "No, Kaya. You are sick. You won’t even talk to me properly. We’re going to get you checked."

Before she could yank his collar again, he grabbed her wrist and shoved it toward the healer. "Here. Check her pulse."

The healer reached out carefully, but Veer suddenly yanked Kaya back.

"Wait!"

Everyone blinked at him. Veer dug into his pocket and pulled out a small square of tanned hide, like a makeshift cloth. He hurriedly wrapped it around Kaya’s wrist, covering her skin.

"Now you can touch her."

The healer stared, baffled. "Sir... how exactly am I supposed to check her pulse with this on?"

Veer crossed his arms, his expression smug. "You’ll check it like this. If you can’t, well... too bad. Bye-bye." He turned, dragging Kaya with him dramatically.

The healer blinked once, then smiled faintly. "...Fine. Fine. I’ll try."

He gently held Kaya’s wrist over the cloth. His fingers rested for only a moment—then his expression shifted. His eyes sharpened, the calm smile slipping away into something heavy.

Slowly, he looked up, his gaze moving between the two of them. "Can I... speak to you both alone?"

The healer’s face shifted—just the faintest shadow passing over his features—and Veer’s heart skipped. Panic shot through him, and before he could stop himself, he blurted,

"What happened? Is something wrong with her? Just save her—no matter what it takes!"

Smack!

Kaya’s palm landed on the back of his head, sharp enough to sting. Veer staggered forward, glaring back at her with wide, wounded eyes.

"Shut up, you idiot," she hissed. Then, with deliberate calm, she pulled her wrist from the healer’s touch. "I know my body better than anyone. I’m fine. No need for your concern—and thank you for your time."

She turned on her heel, grabbing Veer’s arm. "We’re leaving. Now."

They barely made two steps before a hand seized Kaya’s wrist.

In that instant, her eyes went ice-cold.

The world seemed to pause for a heartbeat—then she moved. Her body twisted with lethal precision, dragging the man off balance. Thud! His back slammed into the dirt, air rushing from his lungs. In a blink, her knife was out, its edge pressed firmly against the top of his foot.

"Don’t you dare," she growled, every syllable dipped in steel.

The square erupted in chaos. Beastmen lunged forward, their human forms barely holding back the primal fury in their eyes. Teeth flashed, fists curled, and the air thickened with hostility.

Veer’s wings snapped open with a violent whumph, amber eyes blazing. His stance screamed challenge, every muscle coiled to fight the entire tribe if he had to.

But before a single blow could land, the man pinned under Kaya raised one hand.

"Stop!" His voice rang out, steady despite the blade against his skin.

The beastmen froze mid-motion, eyes darting between their healer and the girl pinning him like a predator. Slowly, he looked up at Kaya. There was no fear in his gaze, only something unreadable.

"It’s okay," he said firmly, his tone calm, almost too calm for someone with death pressing against him. "I wasn’t trying to harm you. I only wanted to speak with you both in private. Nothing more."

Kaya’s knife pressed harder for a second, testing him. His expression didn’t flicker. Finally, with a sharp movement, she pulled it back, sliding the blade into its sheath in one fluid motion.

Her voice was low, dangerous.

"And I tell you—I’m not interested. Next time, before you lay a hand on me, ask first."

She stood, eyes sweeping over the beastmen circling like wolves. Then she turned to Veer, who was still vibrating with the urge to fight.

Her tone softened just for him, but only a little.

"Let’s go."

And together, they pushed past the tense silence of the Monkey Tribe, leaving behind a square full of warriors too stunned to move.

The healer, still seated on the ground, lifted his gaze with quiet stubbornness. His voice carried both urgency and a hint of irritation.

"And I am saying the poison in your body will not simply vanish on its own."